Coe: IAAF will probe bribery claims against Qatar

LONDON (AP) IAAF President Sebastian Coe says claims of bribery by Qatar in the bidding process for the 2017 world athletics championship are being investigated.

Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics, said Sunday his bid team was told ''brown envelopes'' were being handed to members of the IAAF Council the night before the vote in 2011 between London and Qatari capital Doha, which London won. Warner also said his team agreed to spend $7.2 million to cover prize money, having been warned they were unlikely to succeed if they did not.

Speaking on BBC Radio alongside Warner, Coe said he was unaware of the claims and promised to look into them.

Qatar has denied any wrongdoing in its bids for either the 2017 championship or the 2019 championship, which it will host.